Col du Pre

Col du Pre

From the beautiful alpine village of Beaufort in the Savoie department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alps you’ve got two choices when tackling the Cormet de Roselend. Head straight out of town on the D925 and you’ll pick up the main road for the traditional climb but, should you take the unassuming D218A in the direction of Arêches then you also have the opportunity to bag the hidden gem of the Col du Pré. The lesser known climb of the Pré is very different in character, winding its way through meadows and past wooden chalets while those famous cows peacefully graze away all day long. To think that the Pré is the easy option would be an oversight, taking this route actually adds 5 kilometres to the climb with only a moment or two to recover from its steep pitches, often at or beyond 10%. It’s as you crest the Pré’s summit at 1,748m elevation that it becomes clear as to exactly why you’ve decided to suffer the extra 5 kilometres. With snowcapped views of the Mont Blanc Massif, the turquoise water of Lac de Roselend is nothing short of mesmerising.